Letters to the Editor: January 18, 2023

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Who decides?

Maybe someone out there can educate me about a situation. There has been a lot of talk about “sacred ground” on the Big Island. Ignorant people urinating on “sacred ground” and posting it on social media. Areas of the island that were once open to the public closed because they are on “sacred ground.”

One such area was the small parking lot on Alii Drive, just south of Magic Sands Beach. It was closed off to the public for years on the basis of “sacred grounds,” which I and pretty much everyone else respected as part of being respectful citizens on this island.

So why now is this patch of “sacred ground” being used to park construction vehicles and machinery for the new bathroom remodels at this beach — not to mention all the trees they clear cut off this “sacred area” as well? Did this area become all of a sudden less sacred or “unsactified” because public bathrooms need to be built? Can you flip the switch on what is sacred ground if a public works project needs to be completed. Can you pay enough money to park your work trucks where the public has been banned from parking for years?

Factually I don’t really care one way or the other. I think this whole island is sacred with means every inch means something to someone.

I just don’t get how who decides what is sacred and when it is sacred and why it can be utilized for some and not for others. I hope someone more knowledgeable would clear this up for me.

Richard A. Linnemeyer

Kailua-Kona

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Must times change?

Design changes are being presented by the new Hilton-branded out-of-state owners of Uncle Billy’s Kona Bay Hotel. OK, we know we don’t want the place to burn down, but must this iconic property replace “open flame Tiki torches with 260 LED Tiki torch fixtures”?

Niel Thomas

Waimea

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An exemplary employee

Oftentimes it takes just one person in a big box store to gain your trust to come back again as a repeat customer.

Three people, maybe four, inside Home Depot kicked the can down the aisle, including me, until I saw a face that drew me near with her smile, Chyanne Miguel, literally at the last checkout booth.

I said, “It seems everyone else can’t help me. You’re my last hope, girl,” I said, with a chuckle.

I explained my situation in getting a discount, as a veteran, and don’t have a cell phone as everyone else in the store said I was out of luck without one. I have only a landline phone.

Chyanne smiled and said, “I can help you.”

She had me in the system in literally a couple minutes.

“Keep reading those letters to the editor because you deserve recognition for a job well done, should be done.”

Mahalo nui loa, Chyanne, and I hope the store manager puts this in you folder.

Kalaoa

Dennis Lawson

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Tell us about it

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Letters policy

Letters to the editor should be 300 words or less and will be edited for style and grammar. Longer viewpoint guest columns may not exceed 800 words. Submit online at https://www.westhawaiitoday.com/letter-to-the-editor/ or address letters to:

Editor

West Hawaii Today

PO Box 789

Kailua-Kona, HI 96745

Email: letters@westhawaiitoday.com